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Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 1st, 2016, 9:26 pm
by Citroen
New to this forum but been shooting handguns for over 40 years. Mostly .45 ACP but a mix of others too. I already have a pair of CZ82s which use the 9X18 mm cartridge so, when I ran across the P-64 which is more compact, i bought one.

Took it to the range Thursday and the recoil was BRUTAL. After the first magazine, the web of my hand was bleeding. Can anybody give me any idea of whether this is normal for this gun or I need to buy a new recoil spring? Prior to shooting it, I field stripped and cleaned it and the inside look like it had never been fired. The gun is in wonderful shape for a classic firearm, but if the recoil cannot be tamed, it will be sold ASAP.

Thanks for your help and or suggestions.

John

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 1st, 2016, 11:52 pm
by Brno
Welcome! The recoil can be a bit sharp, lol! I took the advice I found in some past threads and bought a Hogue Handall Jr universal grip sleeve. The grip takes some of the bite out of the recoil. Others have gone to an upgraded recoil spring available from Wolff.

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 12:15 am
by Curly1
Welcome to the forum, yes the recoil can be brutal.

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 12:58 am
by snailman153624
The bleeding is probably from slide bite. Make sure you grip it a little lower, it has no beavertail.

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 8:15 am
by chestertnted
Slide bite is common and recoil is heavy. You have to have the love for the P 64!

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 9:05 am
by plarry
A grip sleeve, commercial or home made with a bicycle innertube works wonders. My first experience with p64 was like yours. I was awestruck by the accuracy but dumbfounded by the recoil, which seemed excessive given the relatively heavy weight of the firearm for its size.

Brutal Recoil Thanks

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 10:52 am
by Citroen
Thanks for the suggestions. I am familiar with slide damage to your hand and with hammer bite (been a firearms instructor for 35 years) and this is neither. The skin in the web of my hand was torn and bleeding. I also bought a Star Super B in 9mm at the same time as the P64 and had it with me to try. Firing it results in hammer bite - not only no beavertail but a larger hammer spur than the P64.

I think I will try a glove - install the Wolff 22 pound recoil spring and, if the recoil is still too excessive -find someone who wants the gun. I hate to sell it as it really looks like brand new maybe spent its life in the armory.

Thanks again for the advise. Has anyone actually tried the Wolff spring kit and found either the 20 or 22 pound made a noticeable difference?
John
Charlotte, NC

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 11:27 am
by plarry
Sorry, the only spring I have changed is the hammer spring.

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 12:27 pm
by peewee102
I put the heaviest Wolf recoil spring in, and I think it made a big difference in recoil. Downside, it's hard to load a round.

Re: Brutal Recoil Thanks

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 12:39 pm
by robhic
Citroen wrote: The skin in the web of my hand was torn and bleeding ... I think I will try a glove
That's my only complaint with the P64, same as yours. Look at the area where the two halves of the grips meet. They form a perfect 'T' seam and I believe it is that seam, even if you can barely feel it, when coupled with the recoil of the little pistol is what more abrades the skin than a "slide bite." It's more a "grip bite." :cry:

I found using a fingerless glove works wonders and I no longer have to leave the range bleeding. Recoil spring will get you tons of replies. My thinking is that the 22# spring, being stiffer, transmits more force to the gun. The 18# spring (which IS what was designed for the gun originally...) absorbs more energy and lessens the blow, IMO. Think foam rubber vs hard rubber.

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 12:51 pm
by mwt
Just got mine at Christmas and I installed the 20# recoil spring prior to firing it. Frankly, mine is quite pleasant to shoot compared to my J frame Taurus with stiff handloads. Fired 4 mags with no discomfort or bleeding. It does toss the brass over 20'! I'm shooting Privi hollowpoints.

Re: Brutal Recoil Thanks

Posted: January 2nd, 2016, 1:05 pm
by Weasel640
Citroen wrote:Has anyone actually tried the Wolff spring kit and found either the 20 or 22 pound made a noticeable difference?
John
Charlotte, NC
The "Felt Recoil" after changing springs is a big debate that never ends. Some say yes it's lighter, some say they can't tell, others say no. Since it something "felt" there is no way to definitively measure it.

That said, I feel that the 22LB recoil spring has made a difference in taming the recoil on my P-64.

I don't use one but as others have mentioned a grip sleeve makes a huge difference as well. These are single stack, and the grip on these are fairly narrow, unfortunately this kind of focuses the force into the small area of the web of your hand. The grip sleeves thicken and cushion the grip and more even distributes the felt recoil.

Another thing that happens is the seam between the two halves of the grip, and the frame forms a "T" shape right at the web of your hand. If you P-64 is as new as you say the seam may be rough, and causing unnecessary friction at the point. This is fixed by light sanding on the grips, covering with a grip sleeve or gloves (as you've already suggested).

Another thing to note is that many other "Small Frame" pistols have a heavy recoil kick. Since the frame is so small there is not much distance to absorb this recoil. To be fair almost any hand gun you pick up in a comparable size and round will have a significant kick. The p-64s size and accuracy makes it a great little pistol for CCW, but not so great for recoil.


Looks like you aren't to far away from me, in Fayetteville N.C. Where did you pick up your P-64?

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 3rd, 2016, 2:09 pm
by Ketchman
Another possible way to tame it down a bit is getting some aftermarket grips, such as Mr. Marschal's. They are a bit pricey but they are beautifully made and just a bit wider across the grip which will spread the recoil impact area out a bit.

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 3rd, 2016, 2:17 pm
by chestertnted
I could not tell the difference in recoil when I put the heavy spring in.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Re: Brutal Recoil

Posted: January 3rd, 2016, 6:39 pm
by snailman153624
Recoil springs aren't intended to reduce what you feel...they are designed to match the load in the ammo. If you fire a higher-power round, you need a stiffer recoil spring. If you fire a weaker round, you need a softer spring.

The idea is to keep the slide from slamming too hard into the stops, while also allowing it to move fully enough to reliably cycle the auto-loader.